Vietnam exported an estimated 1.28 million tonnes of rice in the first three months of the year, earning 570 million USD, down 18 percent in volume and 17.3 percent in value compared to the same period last year. 

  It is normal for commercial banks to adjust their interest rates in accordance with their business strategies and market situation, said the State Bank of Vietnam.

 Vietnamese agriculture, battling to retain confidence among consumers, is losing market share across the agriculture and food spectrum, once considered its unbreakable home turf.

 Viet Nam has officially halted meat imports from 21 Brazilian companies, which are being investigated for allegedly bribing state officials to facilitate the sale and export of sub-standard meat products.

 Forty-nine contracts were signed during the two-day regional conference on food security in Hanoi, which ended Thursday, the Netherlands’ deputy minister of agriculture Marjolijn Sonnema said.

 According to Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak has filed geographical indication (GI) to Buon Ma Thuot coffee brand in 17 nations and territories worldwide and so far 12 have agreed to protect the brand name.

 Prospects are bright for Vietnam’s footwear exports after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement comes into force in 2018.

 The question of how to raise assorted investment sources in Vietnam for national economic development has dominated the agenda of many economic forums. 

 Foreign shipping lines will have to publicise charges, surcharges of freight services for containerised goods, and port service charges from July 1, 2017.

 Investment and individual consumption will fuel Vietnam’s economic growth in the year, according to Pham Hong Hai, Chief Executive Officer for Vietnam at HSBC Holdings.

The WB will earmark US$1.8 billion for Viet Nam in the fiscal year of 2017 to support the nation’s poverty reduction, water resource management, agricultural development and urban improvement efforts.

 VN Sustainability Index (VNSI) will make debut in July to evaluate the sustainability performance of companies listed in the stock market of Vietnam.

 Such airlines as Vietnam Airlines, Viejet Air, and Jetstar Pacific announced to increase airfare from March 15-22.

Vietnamese residents should have been admitted to local casinos from last Wednesday when a three-year pilot scheme took effect. However, casino operators have denied Vietnamese entry due to a lack of guidance.

 The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs is devising a scheme on export of high-skilled workers given the abundant domestic labor force, and thus seeking input from major corporations.

Not only the issues of human resources, bad debt, profit, dividends, but also the pressure of increasing capital to cater for updated standards in line with Basel II are pushing banks to exhaustion.

 Rental prices for many shops in Hanoi have started to fall following the city’s fight against pavement encroachment.

 Vietnam is among the leading countries in Asia investing in infrastructure even thought it is one of the smallest economies in the region, according to Bloomberg.

 Analysts of the Retail Research and Investment Advisory Division at Saigon Securities Incorporation (SSI) have predicted 2017 will be a challenging year for banks to increase their Net Interest Margin (NIM).

 The Government of Viet Nam has made accelerated efforts to improve the business climate but more drastic measures must be taken at local levels where firms still face obstacles in doing business.